Blues, Jazz and Rock Icons

Big Mama Thornton - She was the original singer to record the hit blues single "Hound Dog" in 1952. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks. Three years later, Elvis Presley recorded the rock 'n roll version of the song. In a similar occurrence, she wrote and recorded "Ball 'n Chain," which became a hit for her. Janis Joplin later recorded "Ball and Chain," and it became a huge success in the late 1960s.

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Big Mama Thornton - She was the original singer to record the hit blues single "Hound Dog" in 1952. The song was No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts for seven weeks. Three years later, Elvis Presley recorded the rock 'n roll version of the song. In a similar occurrence, she wrote and recorded "Ball 'n Chain," which became a hit for her. Janis Joplin later recorded "Ball and Chain," and it became a huge success in the late 1960s.

Chuck Berry - He was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986. Unlike Elvis Presley, who was dubbed the “King of Rock and Roll” despite never penning an original song, Berry is known for writing a series of hits that are recognized by the Hall among the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll; they include “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Rock & Roll Music.”

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Chuck Berry - He was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its opening in 1986. Unlike Elvis Presley, who was dubbed the “King of Rock and Roll” despite never penning an original song, Berry is known for writing a series of hits that are recognized by the Hall among the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll; they include “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene” and “Rock & Roll Music.”

Ed Wiley, Jr. - He performed his first gig at 16 and scored his first hit record at the age of 19 in 1950 with "Cry, Cry Baby." The Texas tenor saxophonist who specializes in blues and jazz worked and recorded with such legends as Piney Brown, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Big Joe Turner, and Big Mama Thornton.

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Ed Wiley, Jr. - He performed his first gig at 16 and scored his first hit record at the age of 19 in 1950 with "Cry, Cry Baby." The Texas tenor saxophonist who specializes in blues and jazz worked and recorded with such legends as Piney Brown, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Big Joe Turner, and Big Mama Thornton.

John Lee Hooker - Blues master John Lee Hooker often incorporated the boogie-woogie piano style and a driving rhythm into his masterful and idiosyncratic blues guitar and singing. He appeared and sang in the 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers” and was a direct influence in the look of John Belushi's character, Jake Blues, borrowing his trademark sunglasses and soul patch. Despite being illiterate, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was a prolific lyricist.

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John Lee Hooker - Blues master John Lee Hooker often incorporated the boogie-woogie piano style and a driving rhythm into his masterful and idiosyncratic blues guitar and singing. He appeared and sang in the 1980 movie “The Blues Brothers” and was a direct influence in the look of John Belushi's character, Jake Blues, borrowing his trademark sunglasses and soul patch. Despite being illiterate, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was a prolific lyricist.

Little Richard - Rev. Richard Wayne Penniman, better known by the stage name Little Richard, rests on a string of groundbreaking hit singles from 1955 through 1957, such as "Tutti Frutti," "Lucille" and "Long Tall Sally," which helped lay the foundation for rock and roll music and influenced generations of rhythm and blues, rock and soul music artists.

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Little Richard - Rev. Richard Wayne Penniman, better known by the stage name Little Richard, rests on a string of groundbreaking hit singles from 1955 through 1957, such as "Tutti Frutti," "Lucille" and "Long Tall Sally," which helped lay the foundation for rock and roll music and influenced generations of rhythm and blues, rock and soul music artists.

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Louis Jordan - He was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who was known as "The King of the Jukebox." Jordan’s popularity lasted through the later years of the Swing Era and, after Duke Ellington and Count Basie, he was probably the most popular and successful Black bandleader of his day.

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Louis Jordan - He was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who was known as "The King of the Jukebox." Jordan’s popularity lasted through the later years of the Swing Era and, after Duke Ellington and Count Basie, he was probably the most popular and successful Black bandleader of his day.

Muddy Waters - McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician and is widely considered "the Father of Chicago blues." Considered one of the greatest bluesmen of all time, Muddy Waters was a huge inspiration for the British beat explosion in the 1960s and is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

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Muddy Waters - McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician and is widely considered "the Father of Chicago blues." Considered one of the greatest bluesmen of all time, Muddy Waters was a huge inspiration for the British beat explosion in the 1960s and is considered one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

Piney Brown - He witnessed firsthand the evolution of Black popular music from the earliest jump blues through funk. His uncanny ability to sing not only blues, but also jazz, soul and even country & western, has allowed him to keep the pace with the latest musical trends. As a songwriter, he has written for James Brown, Roscoe Gordon and Little Milton, to name a few.

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Piney Brown - He witnessed firsthand the evolution of Black popular music from the earliest jump blues through funk. His uncanny ability to sing not only blues, but also jazz, soul and even country & western, has allowed him to keep the pace with the latest musical trends. As a songwriter, he has written for James Brown, Roscoe Gordon and Little Milton, to name a few.

Ruth Brown - Ruth Alston Weston, better known as R&B singer Ruth Brown, used her influence to press for musicians' rights regarding royalties and contracts, which led to the founding of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Her performances in the Broadway musical "Black and Blue" earned Brown a Tony Award, and the original soundtrack won a Grammy Award.

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Ruth Brown - Ruth Alston Weston, better known as R&B singer Ruth Brown, used her influence to press for musicians' rights regarding royalties and contracts, which led to the founding of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Her performances in the Broadway musical "Black and Blue" earned Brown a Tony Award, and the original soundtrack won a Grammy Award.